Makati, Philippines 菲律宾，马尼拉马卡蒂
March 13, 2026
We disembarked from the ship today and will fly home tomorrow……
马尼拉是我们这次邮轮行的最后一站，。。。
March 13, 2026
We disembarked from the ship today and will fly home tomorrow. Since our flight departs early in the morning, we decided to stay overnight in Makati. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines, known for its modern skyscrapers and well-planned streets.
The Grab ride took more than an hour to cover a distance of only about 10 kilometers. Heavy traffic and busy market streets slowed us down before we finally arrived at The Peninsula Manila Hotel, a beautiful hotel in the area. After waiting for our room to be ready, we had a buffet lunch at the hotel to sample some local cuisine.
After a short nap, we headed out to explore the neighborhood. We soon noticed that many places in the area carried the name “Ayala.” The Ayala family is one of the oldest and most influential business families in the Philippines. Through Ayala Corporation, founded in the 19th century, they played a major role in developing Makati into the country’s modern financial and commercial center.
We first took a leisurely walk around Ayala Triangle Gardens, then visited Ayala Museum. One of the museum’s most impressive exhibits is the gold collection called “Gold of Ancestors,” which features pre-colonial Philippine gold artifacts dating roughly from the 10th to 13th centuries. The collection showcases the remarkable craftsmanship and wealth of early Philippine societies. The artifacts were truly impressive—we had never seen so many gold items displayed in one place.
After leaving the museum, we walked through the Greenbelt Gardens and malls. In the middle of the garden stands a small chapel, where many people were already waiting for the 6 p.m. Mass. We stayed there for a while to observe the religious gathering and admire the deep devotion many Filipinos have to the Catholic Church.
Later we stopped at a café for some comforting Filipino dishes. The food was delicious and made for a pleasant final evening of our trip.
Tomorrow we will fly back to our home in Arizona. This two-week journey through Southeast Asia has been wonderful. We visited four new countries and eight new destinations. We probably became more accustomed to Filipino food than Malaysian cuisine. The weather in the Philippines felt slightly cooler, but overall Malaysia seemed to have better infrastructure and modernization. Among the countries we visited, Brunei impressed us the most.
2026年3月13日
马尼拉是我们这次邮轮行的最后一站，今天早上我们从邮轮下船，明天一早就要飞回家了。由于航班时间较早，我们决定今晚住在马尼拉的马卡蒂区。马卡蒂是菲律宾的金融中心，高楼林立，街道也相对整齐现代。
在船上吃了最后一顿早餐后，下船从港口叫了一辆 Grab，虽然只有大约10公里的路程，却花了一个多小时才到达。一路上交通非常拥堵，还穿过了不少热闹的市场街道，最终我们抵达了 马尼拉半岛酒店（The Peninsula Manila），这是一家非常漂亮的酒店，上海外滩也有。入住后，我们在酒店吃了一顿自助午餐，顺便尝试一些当地菜肴。
午休片刻后，我们出门在附近散步。很快就注意到这一带有许多地方都以 “Ayala” 命名。阿亚拉家族（Ayala family）是菲律宾历史最悠久、最有影响力的商业家族之一。他们通过 阿亚拉集团（Ayala Corporation），在19世纪开始发展商业，并在后来主导开发了马卡蒂，使这里成为菲律宾现代化的金融和商业中心。
我们先在阿亚拉三角花园（Ayala Triangle Gardens） 悠闲地散步，然后参观了 阿亚拉博物馆（Ayala Museum）。博物馆里最令人印象深刻的展览之一是名为 “祖先的黄金”（Gold of Ancestors） 的黄金收藏，展示了大约10至13世纪菲律宾西班牙殖民时期之前的黄金文物。这些展品展示了早期菲律宾精湛的工艺和富足的生活。我们从未在一个地方见过如此多的黄金器物，令人非常震撼。博物馆还详细介绍了当时在西班牙流行的马尼拉披肩，色彩鲜艳漂亮，用于弗拉门戈舞。但实际上都是从中国进口的，马尼拉只是转手一下去了西班牙，成为马尼拉披肩。
离开博物馆后，我们走到Greenbelt 花园和购物中心。花园中央有一座小教堂，许多人已经在那里等待晚上六点的弥撒。我们在那里停留了一会儿，感受这种宗教氛围，也对菲律宾人对天主教的虔诚信仰留下深刻印象。
随后我们到当地一家热门的连锁餐厅吃了一顿菲律宾菜。食物非常美味，也为这次旅程画上了一个愉快的句号。
明天我们将飞回亚利桑那的家。为期两周的东南亚之行非常精彩，我们一共访问了三个新的国家和八个新的目的地。相比之下，我们似乎更适应菲律宾的食物，而不是马来西亚的菜肴。菲律宾的天气稍微凉爽一些，不过整体来说，马来西亚在基础设施和现代化程度方面更好。而在这三个国家中，文莱给我们的印象最好。
Manila, Philippines 菲律宾，马尼拉
March 12, 2026
We docked at Pier 15 in the Port of Manila,……
今天我们的邮轮停靠在马尼拉港的 Pier 15。。。
March 12, 2026
We docked at Pier 15 in the Port of Manila, located in the industrial harbor area. We had cancelled the ship-organized tour and decided instead to explore the city on our own.
The ship provided a free shuttle bus to a shopping mall, but after looking at the map we realized it would be easy to walk to Rizal Park first. José Rizal is the country’s national hero, and his name appears everywhere in the city. Rizal Park itself is spacious and impressive.
From the park, we continued walking to Intramuros, the historic walled city built during the Spanish colonial period. During our visit, we stopped at San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in the Philippines. The church itself was beautiful, with its ornate interior and painted ceiling. However, what interested us most was the museum inside the old monastery. We spent quite a bit of time exploring the exhibits, which displayed religious art, antique furniture, historical manuscripts, and artifacts from the Spanish colonial period. Walking through the quiet cloisters and galleries offered a deeper understanding of the church’s long history and the role Catholicism played in shaping the culture of the Philippines.
For lunch, we stopped at a café inside Casa Manila and shared a plate of chicken adobo. All the tables on the first floor were occupied, so we went upstairs to the second floor, where we enjoyed a quiet moment together.
The Manila Cathedral was nearby, so we stopped in for a brief visit.
We then visited Fort Santiago, which once served as a military fortress defending Manila. José Rizal was imprisoned here before he was executed in 1896. Although the site is historically important, much of the fort was rebuilt after World War II.
From the fort, we called a Grab to go to Binondo, the oldest Chinatown in the world outside China. The visit turned out to be somewhat disappointing. Either we did not find the right streets, or it simply did not resemble the typical Chinatown we are familiar with. We also had difficulty finding places that accepted credit cards. We decided to head back toward the ship for a late lunch. On the way, however, we noticed Café 1919 inside the HSBC building, an elegant Western-style structure. We decided to stop there and ordered an ube roll cake and crispy pork belly—an unexpected but wonderful combination. Both dishes were excellent, especially the cake, which was one of the best we have ever tasted. It turned out to be a perfect ending to our visit to Chinatown.
In the evening, a Philippine folk dance group performed on the ship, bringing traditional dances and music to the audience. It was one of the best performances we had seen during the trip.
2026年3月12日
今天我们的邮轮停靠在马尼拉港的 Pier 15，这里属于工业港区。我们取消了船上安排的岸上游，决定自己在城里走走看看。
邮轮提供免费的接驳巴士前往一个购物中心，不过我们看了一下地图，觉得直接步行去 黎刹公园（Rizal Park） 更方便。何塞·黎刹是菲律宾著名的民族英雄，在这座城市里几乎到处都能看到他的名字。黎刹公园开阔而庄严，给人留下了不错的印象。
从公园出发，我们步行前往 王城区（Intramuros），这是一座西班牙殖民时期修建的城墙城市。在这里我们参观了 圣奥古斯丁教堂（San Agustin Church），这是菲律宾最古老的石砌教堂。教堂内部装饰华丽，天花板上的绘画也非常精美。不过更吸引我们的是修道院里的博物馆。我们在那里停留了相当长的时间，仔细参观了馆内展出的宗教艺术品、古董家具、历史文献以及西班牙殖民时期的各种文物。安静的回廊和展厅让人能够更深入地理解这座教堂悠久的历史，以及天主教在菲律宾文化中所扮演的重要角色。
中午我们在 Casa Manila 里的王城区餐厅里简单吃了点东西，两人分了一份 阿斗波鸡（chicken adobo）。一楼的座位都满了，于是我们上到二楼，在那里安静地坐下来享受了一会儿只属于两个人的午餐时光。马尼拉天主教堂也在附近，我们也进去看了一下。
随后我们参观了 圣地亚哥堡（Fort Santiago）。这里曾是防卫马尼拉的重要军事堡垒，黎刹在1896年被处决之前就曾被关押在这里。这个地方具有重要的历史意义，不过大部分建筑在二战后进行了重建。
离开圣地亚哥堡后，我们叫了一辆 Grab 前往 岷伦洛（Binondo），这里被认为是中国以外最古老的唐人街。不过这次的体验有些令人失望。也许是我们没有找到最热闹的街区，或者这里的氛围与我们熟悉的唐人街不太一样，而且很多地方都不接受信用卡。放弃在唐人街吃饭念头， 正准备返回船上吃个晚午餐时，我们忽然看到 HSBC 大楼里有一家 Cafe 1919。这是一座西式风格的建筑，于是我们决定进去试试。我们点了 紫薯卷蛋糕（ube roll cake） 和 脆皮五花肉，味道非常好。两样都很出色，尤其是那块蛋糕，可以说是我们吃过最好的蛋糕之一。没想到这竟然成为我们这次唐人街之行最美好的结尾。
晚上船上还有一场菲律宾民俗舞蹈表演，马尼拉当地的舞者们上船来给大家带来了当地传统的音乐和舞蹈，非常精彩。
马尼拉这个城市对我们船来说是非常重要的地方，因为船上的工作人员中有很多来自菲律宾。许多员工离家在外工作好几个月，终于可以在马尼拉与家人见上一面。邮轮特地安排时间让家属上船来，据说有二百多位家属上船, 同时员工也可以下船与家人团聚一下。好几天前我们就能感觉到船上许多员工的兴奋与激动。邮轮今天在马尼拉过夜，明天晚上才离开。
Boracay, Philippines 菲律宾，长滩岛
March 11, 2026
The small island of Boracay is home to one of the best white-sand beaches……
今天一早我们的船来到了菲律宾的长滩岛。。。
March 11, 2026
The small island of Boracay is home to one of the best white-sand beaches in the Philippines and is a very popular travel destination.
In the morning, we joined a tour that crossed the bay to visit Motag Living Museum, a unique cultural attraction near Boracay that allows visitors to experience traditional Filipino rural life. The museum was created to preserve the traditional farming culture of Aklan Province while also providing employment opportunities for local residents.
The activities included demonstrations of planting rice in a paddy field, grinding rice using traditional wooden tools, learning about young and mature coconuts and how coconut oil is produced, and presenting traditional cooking techniques, even making rice popcorn. I also tried riding a water buffalo, which was quite an experience. Coconut water and local snacks were offered during the visit, and of course the villagers welcomed us with songs and dances. The visit was both informative and enjoyable.
After returning to the ship for lunch, we took a free shuttle bus to the White Beach area. In the middle section of the beach there were many shops and restaurants, as well as a large number of tourists. The area had once been overdeveloped, causing significant environmental damage. In 2018, the Philippine government temporarily closed Boracay for six months to restore the environment.
Today, the beach is still crowded but noticeably clean. The powdery white sand stretches right up to the front of the shops lining the beach. We did not spend much time swimming because it was quite crowded. Instead, we found a pleasant beachfront restaurant and enjoyed a Filipino meal, including chicken adobo and seafood. The food was excellent and the view was wonderful. It was a relaxing way to end the day.
Back on the ship and recovered from the exhausting heat, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Waterside.
2026年3月11日
今天一早我们的船来到了菲律宾的长滩岛，在离岛不远处的海里抛锚，乘客坐接驳船上岸。小小的长滩岛拥有菲律宾最著名、也是最美丽的白沙滩之一，因此成为非常热门的旅游目的地。
早上我们参加了岸上游，前往在海湾对面的Motag 生活博物馆（Motag Living Museum）。这是一个独特的文化景点，让游客能够体验菲律宾传统的乡村生活。这个博物馆建立的目的，是为了保存阿克兰省（Aklan）传统的农耕文化，同时也为当地居民提供就业机会。
活动内容包括讲解在稻田里种植水稻的过程、使用传统木制工具碾米、介绍嫩椰子和成熟椰子以及椰子油的制作方法，还展示了一些传统烹饪方式，甚至现场制作爆米花。我还尝试骑了一次水牛，一次很特别的体验。参观过程中还提供了椰子水和当地小吃，村民们还以歌舞表演欢迎我们的到来。整个参观既有趣又富有知识性。
岸上游结束后我们回到码头边，没有坐接驳船回邮轮，而是坐了免费的接驳巴士前往白沙滩（White Beach）。在海滩的中段，聚集着密密麻麻的商店和餐馆，当然也有大量游客。这个地区曾经因为过度开发而对环境造成严重破坏，因此在2018年，菲律宾政府曾将长滩岛关闭六个月进行环境整治。
如今的海滩依然人很多，但明显干净整洁。细腻如粉的白沙一直延伸到海滩边的商店门前。由于人实在太多，我们没有花太多时间在海滩上走，而是找了一家临海的餐厅，享用了一顿菲律宾风味的午餐，包括 阿斗波鸡（chicken adobo） 和海鲜。食物非常美味，海景也十分迷人。吃完饭路过一家冰淇淋店- Coco Mama。看到排长队，赶紧去凑个热闹也来一份，椰子壳里先放入新鲜椰丝垫底， 接着放上二种不同口味的冰淇淋，最后再放上适量的芒果丁及其它配料，非常好吃。查了一下才知道这是当地有名的冰淇淋店。轻松而愉快的一天，心满意足，高高兴兴地回船去。
Coron Island, Philippines 菲律宾，科隆港
March 10, 2026
This destination is only about 100 miles from our previous stop……
今天来到菲律宾巴拉望的科隆港,。。。
March 10, 2026
This destination is only about 100 miles from our previous stop. Somehow the cruise company stretched the journey into two days, adding another sea day. The sea was quite rough during that time, and both of us slept extra hours to recover. Fortunately, we still felt well enough to attend dinner, unlike the previous rough sea day when we had skipped it.
As the ship sailed into Coron Bay, we were greeted by many colorful bangkas—traditional Filipino outrigger boats with bamboo stabilizers on both sides. Each boat had its own design and bright color scheme, reflecting the creativity and craftsmanship of the Filipino people.
The coastline around Coron in Palawan is famous for its crystal-clear waters and dramatic limestone cliffs. We joined a ship-organized excursion to explore the natural beauty of the area.
After disembarking, we boarded a bangka and headed to our first stop, a snorkeling site. The water was exceptionally clear, and the corals were alive and vibrant. Although we did not see large fish, we spotted many interesting species such as parrotfish, clownfish (Nemo fish), sergeant major fish, and razorfish. The coral reefs were among the best we have ever seen.
Although we were given an hour to explore, after about half an hour everyone had returned to the boat except me. I was the only one still in the water. Eventually I felt bad keeping everyone waiting, and Connie was already waving for me to come back, so I reluctantly swam back to the boat.
Our next stop was Beach 91, where we had lunch with grilled pork and chicken. The grilled pork belly was especially delicious—probably the best I had during the trip.
The final stop required climbing a small hill with about 375 steps up and down to reach a freshwater lake, Kayangan Lake. The water was clear, though there were not many fish. I still did a short snorkeling swim in the lake before returning to the boat.
The tour was tiring but very rewarding. We had a wonderful time exploring this beautiful part of Palawan.
2026年3月10日
今天来到菲律宾巴拉望的科隆港，这里与我们上一站公主港的距离大约只有100英里。不知为什么，邮轮公司却把航程安排成两天，中间增加了一个海上航行日。那天海况比较颠簸，我们两个人都多睡了一些时间来恢复体力。幸运的是，我们的状态还不错，没有像上一次遇到大风浪时那样连晚餐都错过。
巴拉望科隆一带的海岸线以清澈见底的海水和壮观的石灰岩悬崖而闻名。当邮轮驶入科隆湾时，周围出现了许多大大小小，色彩鲜艳的螃蟹船（bangka）— 菲律宾传统的双侧竹制浮杆船。每一艘船的设计和配色都不一样，十分鲜艳，充分体现了菲律宾人的创造力。
我们参加了邮轮组织的活动，去探索这一带的自然美景。下船后，我们登上一艘 稍大一点的bangka，前往第一个浮潜地点。海水非常清澈，珊瑚也十分鲜活、色彩斑斓。虽然没有看到大型鱼类，但我们看到了不少有趣的鱼，比如鹦嘴鱼、小丑鱼（Nemo鱼）、军曹鱼和剃刀鱼。这里的珊瑚礁也是我们见过最好的之一。
虽然给了我们一个小时浮潜时间，但大约半个多小时后其他人都已经回到船上，只有我一个人还在水里。Connie 已经在船上向我招手示意，我觉得让大家等着不太好意思，才依依不舍地游回船上。
接下来我们来到 Beach 91 吃午餐，提供的是烤猪肉和烤鸡。我觉得那里的烤五花肉特别好吃，可能是这次旅行中吃到的最好的一次。另外这里的海滩也很漂亮，海水清澈见底。坐着边吃烤肉边看海景，吃完再去海里玩一下，很是享受。
最后一站需要爬上一座小山，上下大约有 375级台阶，才能到达著名的 凯央根湖（Kayangan Lake）。这是科隆岛上的一个淡水湖。湖水非常清澈，不过鱼并不多。我还是在湖里简单浮潜了一下，最后再来个新鲜的椰子，然后才回到船上。
今天的活动虽然有些累，但非常值得。我们度过了一段愉快的时光，也欣赏到了巴拉望迷人的自然风光。
Puerto Princesa, Philippines 菲律宾，普林塞萨港
March 8, 2026
We docked at Puerto Princesa, Philippines, at 11 a.m.,……
上午11点，我们的邮轮停靠在菲律宾的普林塞萨港，。。。
March 8, 2026
We docked at Puerto Princesa, Philippines, at 11 a.m., marking a new country for us. As our ship slowly entered the bay, we were immediately intrigued by the colorful bangka boats in the water. Their unique shapes and bright colors gave the harbor a lively charm, making our first glimpse of the Philippines especially memorable.
A high school band and a group of folk dancers welcomed us with a lively performance under the scorching sun. Even in the intense heat, their smiles and energy never faded, and we truly appreciated the effort and enjoyed the moment.
Since our ship stayed only half a day, there were limited shore excursions offered. Instead, we teamed up with a couple of fellow passengers, including one of the ship’s lecturers, and arranged a city tour together.
For $90 shared among four people, we hired a van with a driver and a local guide. The tour took us to several sites around the city, including the cathedral, Plaza Cuartel, a local weaving factory, the Crocodile Farm, Mitra’s Ranch, and Baker’s Hill.
When we arrived at the cathedral, a Mass was in progress, so we did not tour the inside. Plaza Cuartel was closed for renovation, so we could only view the area briefly.
We then visited a small weaving factory where local workers demonstrated traditional weaving techniques. We were invited to try the weaving machine ourselves, which made the visit more interactive and engaging.
At the Crocodile Farm, we saw a few crocodiles kept in concrete enclosures, but the visit was not particularly impressive.
The stop at Mitra’s Ranch was more enjoyable. Located on a hill, it offered a pleasant breeze and a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.
Our final stop was Baker’s Hill, a small park and shopping area, where we tried halo-halo and ube cake, both popular local desserts.
The weather was hot and humid throughout the afternoon. After finishing the tour, we returned to the ship to rest.
2026年3月8日
上午11点，我们的邮轮停靠在菲律宾的普林塞萨港，当地的居民穿着漂亮的服装，在码头上又唱又跳地欢迎我们邮轮的到来。这是我们第一次来到这个国家。由于邮轮只在这里停留大半天，船上提供的岸上活动选择不多。昨天我们在船上听完讲座，与主讲者聊起今天的活动，他们夫妇俩邀请我们加入他们已安排好的城市游，我们欣然接受。
四个人合租了一辆面包车，连同司机和当地导游一共90美元。行程带我们参观了市区的几个景点，包括大教堂、夸特尔广场（Plaza Cuartel）、一家当地织布小工厂、鳄鱼养殖中心、米特拉庄园 (Mitra’s Ranch) 和 贝克山烘焙园( Baker’s Hill)。
当我们到达大教堂时，里面正在举行弥撒，因此没有进去参观，只在门口拍了几张照片。夸特尔广场 因为正在整修而关闭，我们只能在外面简单看了一下。
随后我们参观了一家小型织布工厂，当地工人向我们展示了传统的织布工艺。我们还被邀请亲自尝试操作织布机，这让整个参观过程更加生动、有参与感。
在鳄鱼养殖中心，我们看到大大小小的鳄鱼被养在水泥隔间里，整体参观体验并没有给我们留下太深的印象。
米特拉庄园的参观相对更令人愉快。这里位于山丘上，可以俯瞰周围的乡村景色，视野开阔，微风也让人感觉舒适。最后一站是 贝克山烘焙园，这里既是一个小型公园，也有一些售卖当地特产的小店。我们在那里品尝了 菲律宾刨冰 (halo-halo) 和 紫薯饼（ube cake），这两样都是当地人喜爱的甜点，我们也觉得很不错。
整个下午天气炎热而潮湿。结束行程后，我们回到船上休息。